CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE AT THE HEART OF A TRADITIONAL CHINESE GARDEN
In March 2024, Wutopia Lab's Emerald Screen Pergola creation was officially unveiled at the Bogong Island Ecological Park in Wuxi, China.

This architectural gesture, by Wutopia Lab, echoes a typical element of classical Chinese gardens. Most often, this type of long pergola is constructed of bamboo or wood, forming corridors, pavilions, and walls. Climbing plants are cultivated to cover its surface. This architectural structure enhances the space by integrating nature, and it also fosters a range of cultural activities related to flowers, making it an important symbol in traditional Chinese paintings. Unfortunately, these pergolas have disappeared from some classical gardens.

Thus, on Bogong Island, there was a 1,2-kilometer-long steel latticework structure. Originally covered in wisteria and roses, it deteriorated over time and became dangerous for users. Reconstruction was therefore necessary. This is where Wutopia Lab stepped in. Founded by Shanghai-based architect Yu Ting, the architecture and design firm used leaf and feather shapes to create various structural combinations for the walls and roofs along this 1,2-kilometer length. These structures open, close, stand on their own, overlap, and sometimes disappear. A novel rhythm and new punctuation redefine the previously monotonous vision of the traditional latticework walkway. This new approach also brings a rich and vibrant interplay of light that evokes the image of a dragon dance or a wandering dragon, as Wutopia Lab describes it: “a wandering dragonlike Emerald Screen Pergola.”
« I decided to design a flower pavilion that would serve as both the entrance to the corridor and the park. Similarly, I used white, feather-shaped steel latticework, stacking it layer by layer to create a roofless central structure. This will be my semi-transparent pantheon. Its completion also marks the grand reopening of the Bogong Island Ecological Park. " explains the architect.

To create this true work of art, the team chose to construct the pergola using round steel covered with a white-painted steel trellis, which will support climbing plants. Initially, the structure will be adorned with greenery, then with flowers, ranging from jasmine and roses to honeysuckle and wisteria, which will bloom successively. While awaiting their growth, the still-bare white pergola creates a misty effect in the middle of the garden. This unique architectural gesture reflects the approach and commitment of Wutopia Lab, whose
The goal is to modernize traditional concepts in an innovative way using contemporary forms and materials.

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